Veteran's Day in the Classroom

As a youngster in grade school, I remember Veteran's Day as being a day off between Halloween and Thanksgiving. I didn't know much more than that. I did know that if I was with my parents on that day, we would stop and be quiet for a minute or so at 11:00 AM. I didn't know why but I figured as long as I got out of school it was okay and I could keep my trap shut for a minute or so. Needless to say, I've learned a bit more about Veteran's Day and what it's all about over the years. But it still has a tendency to be an overlooked holiday--and it shouldn't be. Men and women have fought and died to preserve our way of life in this country and the least we can do is celebrate their gift to us. If you're a teacher or work with young folk help educate them about Veteran's Day. Let them understand why the holiday exists and what it means to our way of life. If you'd like some ideas for classroom activities, visit "Classroom Suggestions for Veteran's Day." The photograph here is of the Moving Wall, a 1/2 scale replica of the Vietnam War Memorial from Washington, D.C. It travels around the country and is displayed at various festivals, events, American Legion, V.F.W. posts and other locations. Visit the Moving Wall schedule to see when the wall may be appearing near you.